"In Primis.

"First.-When being to speak of our blessed Lady, he well saith, first, to wit, before all Angels, before all men, and before all creatures. For to which of the Angels was it at any time said: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee? Or to what man was it ever said: The power of the Most High shall overshadow thee? Or to what creature was it ever said: That which of thee shall be born Holy, shall be called the Son of God?

"Gloriosa.

"Where note that to this most excellent Queen, four most singular and renowned titles are attributed and given.

"1. She is said to be glorious, because she is most gloriously assumpted both in soul and body.

"2. Glorious for the great glory which she enjoyeth in the kingdom of heaven, wherein she far surpasseth all Cherubim and Seraphim, yea, all the Angelical Spirits and orders of Saints being put together.

"3. Glorious for the high honour which the Church Militant doth give unto her; for whereas other Saints are served with the honour which is called Dulia, She is worshipped with the honour which is called hyperdulia, which hyperdulia is in an especial honour due unto her, for the affinity and heroical virtue, even contracted with Almighty God" (p. 224).

The editor tells us nothing of his own labour. The style of the work seems too modern for the date given, 1622, yet we presume it is given untouched, for a few obsolete words appear throughout. It seems to us that a genuine interest about the writings of our Catholic forefathers is springing up, and we trust that it will be the means of bringing to light many works as valuable as this "Devout Exposition of the Holy Mass."

Gold and Alloy in a Devout Life. By the Rev PERE MONSABRE, O.P. Authorized Translation, with Preface, by the Very Rev. T. N. BURKE, O.P. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son. 1876.

TH

HE characteristics and effects of true and false devotion are here contrasted in a series of sketches. That "false devotees " will read the book and recognize their failings is to be desired, but scarcely to be expected; for it is hard to undeceive self-complacency. The brighter side of the sketches shows true devotion with that humble attention to home duties, that candour, cheerfulness, and simplicity, which, beneath an ordinary exterior, give religion its outward fascination. The portraits deal only with the devotion and the weaknesses of women. "Men," the prologue tells us, "will not appear in our gallery, for, alas! they practise so little devotion that it would be difficult for them to abuse it "'-a remark which savours too much of asperity: it might have been more just had it been less epigrammatic. The book contains a good deal of sound sense, which would have gained force by condensation. The last chapter, which treats of the Blessed Virgin as a "Type from the Fathers," is by far the best. We cannot praise the translation of the work; "finikin precautions," "helter-skelter," and "outlandish," are words which do not

improve the style; and there is a vast difference between assuming a colloquial tone and making such abrupt descents as the termination of the following passage:-"Let them say if they will: 'I content myself with adoring God in silence; I bathe my soul mysteriously in His Supreme Essence.' We should place little faith in this proud assertion, and believe that if we could touch their soul, it would scarcely feel moistened by the heavenly dew which they pretend to receive on the sly."

The Duchess Transformed. A Comedy in One Act. By W. II. A. Washbourne. 1876.

T

HOUGH not given under his full name, this unpretending Comedy, suitable for Christmas plays, is too like F. Anderdon's playful writing not to be recognized. F. Anderdon has done us exceedingly good service in popular religious writing, and as there is still a great want of light, simple, naturally-worded plays and tales among us, he is doing his best to supply that also. Most of our colleges and convent schools, and the children in many Catholic families, are fond of acting at special traditional times; and the custom is an excellent one, especially for boys. But when school boys and girls have painfully achieved and perfected their Terence, or Shakespeare, or Corneille, they need the encouragement and relief of some lighter comic trifles. And these they are apt to borrow from questionable sources, which it takes a great deal of time and trouble to revise and renew with innocent matter. We sincerely hope, therefore, that F. Anderdon will give us some more little plays. The subject of ladies' dress is, and will be always, a prancing hobby-horse for men to ride, and we sometimes wonder how they would feel if they were suddenly dismounted from this ever-saddled steed. The persent "skit" turns upon the Duchess of Southumberland, quiet and ladylike, as duchesses are wont to be-changing characters with Mdme. Grosdenaples, her French maid, and instructing Mrs. Muff, a country banker's wife, on the fashions of the day. The duchess, thus personating Mdme. Grosdenaples, utters some very good satires upon modern dress and manners, and after sufficiently mystifying the mamina and the two foolish elder daughters, reveals herself to the youngest, who, according to the fairy tale tradition as to youngest daughters, is more wise. The maid, meanwhile, as the duchess, is dressed out in the most extravagent absurdities, which she displays as the "correct thing"; and of which Mrs. Muff and her two daughters take notes. After administering a playful lesson, the duchess, by a quiet word or two, recalls her maid to her proper name and office before the astounded ladies, and ends the play with a little moral teaching given in a very pleasant way.

Catalogue descriptif et raisonné des Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque de Tours. Par A. DORANGE. 1874.

NE of the richest and most ancient collections of literary treasures

ΟΝ

in France is to be found at Tours. Formed by the coalition of certain monastic and other libraries, of which the Abbey of S. Martin, the Abbey of Marmoutier, and the Church of S. Gatien, may be mentioned as the chief, the whole forms a collection of which any nation might feel proud. Until about a year ago, however, this mass of treasure was as a sealed book to the many literary men who either had not the time or the opportunity to make researches for themselves in the galleries of the Rue Royale. Next to having no library at all, the worst fate for a scholar or an archæologist is to be ignorant or uncertain as to what a library contains; and had it not been for the energy and devotion of M. Dorange, the learned Conservateur at Tours, such ignorance might to this day have prevailed regarding the collection in that town. The catalogue named at the head of this notice displays a degree of ability, labour, and appreciation that fully prove M. Dorange to be in his right place as the keeper of one of the most important libraries in France; and though we feel sure we do no more than justice to him when we say that his work was a labour of love, yet it is none the less praiseworthy on that account. The Tours collection, as we said above, is chiefly the union of three other libraries. We propose to say a very few words upon each, as the most convenient way of showing how rich the combination of the three has necessarily made the whole.

The founder of the library of S. Martin was the celebrated Alcuin, who, on his return to England from Rome, whither he had been sent by Eanbalde, passed through Parma, where the Emperor Charlemagne then was, and was persuaded by that monarch to reside henceforward in France. At the same royal suggestion he set up a school at Tours, where he, with his own hand, transcribed the whole Bible with marginal notes, and also founded the nucleus of a library, which now forms part of that over which M. Dorange presides.

The library of Marmoutier, rich in manuscripts, belonged to the Benedictine monastery of that name, founded by S. Martin the patron of Tours, and the greater part of these MSS. are now in the collection in that town. Lastly, the library belonging to the Metropolitan Church of S. Gatien was founded by S. Perpetuus, Bishop of Tours, in the fifth century, who on his death bequeathed his books to the Chapter of S. Gatien.

It is impossible, in the small space at our disposal, to do more than mention one or two of the principal MSS. in the grand collection of 1,500 of which M. Dorange has published the catalogue. One of the greatest treasures is the magnificent Codex aureus— -Gospels of the eighth century, in uncial letters of gold on vellum, on which the kings of France took oath as honorary canons of S. Martin. Then we have a richly illuminated VOL. XXVII.-NO. LIV. [New Series.]

20

history of Charles V. The Hours of Anne of Brittany, also beautifully illuminated are here. This Princess was a great patroness of this stylə of art, and the world-famous Hours in the Musée de Souverains at Paris, enriched with the most exquisite fruit and flower-painting, were executed by her order. We much regret that our space forbids a more specific notice of the many objects of interest and beauty in the Tours collection, but we may mention before leaving the subject that M. Dorange has presented a copy of his catalogue to the library of the British Museum. A debt of gratitude is due to M. Dorange from the whole literary and artistic world, and from France especially; for, during the campaign of 1870, the Conservateur, true to his trust, and conscious of the treasures in his charge, conveyed the whole collection to a place of safety, beyond the sight of pickelhaube and the sound of cannon.

LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.

[IN our July number we criticised Dr. Mivart's theory on "the Rights of Conscience." Early in the last quarter it was proposed to us, that we should insert in our present number the reply which he desired to make, reserving all comment for a future occasion. We accepted this proposal; and accordngly we here place Dr. Mivart's reply before our readers, reserving comment for a future occasion. On finding however from us that he had misunderstood our meaning on one matter of considerable practical importance, he has very handsomely consented to our appending a few paragraphs of explanation in this present number.]

NOME speculations originally put forward in the "Contem

porary Review,"* and since republished,† have been so unfortunate as to meet with the disapproval of one I highly esteem and regard. This disapproval having lately found expression in the pages of the DUBLIN REVIEW, it seems fitting to make some reply, and I rejoice that such reply is permitted by the Editor to appear in the same periodical, addressing itself, as it thus will, to the same public as that to which the criticism was addressed. And here I may affirm that I gladly avail myself of the opportunity afforded me to explain a passage which has been more than once quoted, and as to which some misapprehension appears to have arisen. It seems to have been supposed that in speaking of certain widely reprobated sentiments as existing amongst those "enthusiasts who claim for themselves, par excellence, the title of advanced,'" I intended to refer to some more or less known liberals of this country. This is an utter mistake. Although I do know personally one or two Englishmen (quite unknown to fame) to whom what was said strictly applies, and who were present to my mind, I more especially referred to continental revolutionists, who, at the time I wrote, much occupied public attention. No one has a stronger sense than I have of the estimable qualities of many of our English "advanced" thinkers, both in their civil and in their domestic relations. I have had personal experience of, and bear most willing testimony to the self-denying philanthropy and purity of life of men whom I cannot claim as

* See the number for September, 1873, and subsequent numbers. + "Contemporary Evolution," H. S. King & Co., 1876.

See the number for July, 1876, Article I.